Corn-planter



J. ARMSTRONG, Jr.

CORN PLANTER.

Patented Sept. 20, 1864.

WZQJEW' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

J. ARMSTRONG, JR, OF ELMIRA, ILLINOIS.

CORN-PLANTER.

Specification forming part/of Letters Patent No. 414.273, dated September 20, 1564.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J AMES Anmsrrnone, J r., of Elmira, in the county of Stark and State of Illinois, have invented a new and Improved Corn-Planter; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a side sectional view of my invention, taken in the line w .r, Fig. 3. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of a portion of the same, taken in the line 3 y, Fig.- 3. Fig. 3 is a plan or top view of the same.

Similarlette'rs of reference indicate like parts in all the figures.

This invention relates to a new and useful machine for planting corn both in hills and drills; and it consists in a novel-arrangement of the framing, whereby the part on which the seed-dropping mechanism is placed and the part in which the wheels are fitted may have a certain action or movement independent of each other, and the framing be allowed to conform to the inequalities of the surface of the ground over which it passes.

The invention also consists in a novel mannerofraising'the front part which supports the seed-droppin g mechanism, whereby the furrowshares may be readily elevated above the surface of the ground when desired.

The invention also consists in an improved arrangement of stirrers, whereby the proper distribution of the seed is fully insured, the perforated slides being prevented from clogging or choking during the seed-dropping operation.

The invention, filsther consists in a noveland improved arrangementof scrapers for cleaning the peripheries of the wheels which support the back part of the framing of the machine.

To enable others skilled in the art to fully understand and construct my invention, 1 will proceed to describe it.

A represents the rear part of the framing of the machine,'which-is of rectangular form, and is supported by two wheels, B B. This part A is provided with two longitudinal parallel bars, a a, which extend forward some distance in frontof the part A, and which are attached by pivots b to the upper side and forward end of thefront portion, 0, of the framing, which is also of rectangular form, and has a draftpole, I), attached to it.

E represents a treadle-fraine, which is composed of two parallel bars, 0 0, connected at their back ends by a cross-bar, d. The bars a c extend back nearly to theback cross-piece, e, of the part A of the training; and said bars 0 are secured to the bars a of A by'means of pivots e. The front ends of the bars a pass through loops F, which are attached to the rear end of the portion 0 of the framing, said loops each having a friction-roller, d", in them, which rollers are over the bars 0 c.

' G is the drivers sear, which is attached toa curved metal support, H, secured to the back cross-piece e of the part A of the framing.

I I represent seed-boxes, which are placed on the back part of the front portion, 0, of the framing, one at-each side. Theupp'er parts of these seed-boxes are connected by a board,J, which forms the droppers sea-t.

K is a slide, the ends of which pass through the lower parts of the seed-boxes. This slide is perforated with a hole,f, near each end, and underneath the holef in each seed-box there is inserted a perforated stationary plate, L, said plates having a position at right angles with the slide, audhaviug theiriperforations of different sizes to regulate the dropping of the seed as may be required, these platesL being adjustable, so that different sized perforations may be brought in line with the holes f of the slide K.

M represents the furrow-shares, which are attached one to each side of the front portion, 0, of the framing, the tubes N being attached to the back parts of said shares to receive the seed discharged from the boxes I and convey the same to the furrows. At the lower ends of these tubes there are valves 0, which are turned or operated through 'the medium of cranks g, connected to the slide K.

In each seed-box I there is placed a stirrer, P. These stirrers are each composed of a pond ent rod, h, the lower end of which just enters the holesf of slide K, and the upper ends of said rods are attached to horizontal bars '5, the ends of which are fitted loosely in bearings at the front and back of the seed-bones. The lower part of the pendent rods h are provided -each with a horizontal projection, j, and these projections are fitted in notches in the upper ends of short uprights k,'attached to the slide K.

From this description it will be seen that the stirrers are operated with a swinging or oscillating motion through the medium of the slide K; and the holes f, as well as the perforations in the'plates L, are effectually prevented from being choked up or clogged withseed. The furrow-shares may he raised out of the ground at any. time by pressing down the back end of the treadle-frame'E, and this may be done with the greatest facility in consequence of the bars 0 passing underneath the. frictionrollers 11 in the loops F; and the two parts A U of the frame, in consequence of vbeing connected together as shown, are allowed to conform to the inequalities of the surface of the round. The slide K is, when corn is being planted in hills, operated by an attendant on the seat G through the medium of a lever, Q; but when thecorn is to be planted in dril-ls, the slide is operatedautomatically fromthe' wheels B by means of levers arranged in any suitable way.

R R represent scrapers, which are attached at their outer ends by pivotsa" to the part A of the framing. These scrapers extend obliquely across the wheels B B, and at their inner ends pass horizontally through the upper ends of supports orlevers S S, thelower ends of which are attachedby pivots to the part A of the framing. The scrapers B have an in-' clined position in their transverse section relatively with the, wheels B; and the scrapers, when required for use, are pressed forward by the feet of the driver pressing on the horizontal projection, their front edges bearing against the wheels and efl'ectually clearing the dirt therefrom. The oblique position of the scrapers renders their action much more efficient than it would be if they were placed so as to act horizontally against the wheels.

I do not claim the means employed for operating the slide K; but,

Having thus described my invention, what I 'do claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-sv 1. The friction-rollers d d, placed in the loops -F,- in combination with the treadle-frame E, as 

